Users complaining about being pushed Vodafone 360 services.
Vodafone is facing a backlash from customers with the HTC Desire smartphone, after it pushed them an update containing several Vodafone 360 services.
Users were hoping for the Android 2.2. 'Froyo' OS, but in a statement published on its forums, Vodafone says it is "still working" on that update with HTC and Google.
Instead, earlier this week Voda's Desire-owning customers got a version of Android 2.1, preloaded with several Vodafone 360-branded apps and services.
The statement claims that this "brings the experience on the Desire in line with other devices supplied by Vodafone", and warns that "It is not currently possible for the customisations to be uninstalled from the device."
In a thread on the same forums, customers have complained that the update is making their Desire more sluggish to use, and have also railed against the fact that links to Match.com and Flirtomatic were included with the update.
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A separate thread this morning suggests that the update may now have been pulled by Vodafone in response to this feedback.
The controversy highlights a dangerous area for operators, who are keen to put their stamp and services on Android handsets, despite the fact that Google's smartphone OS' key selling point is its openness.
